June 23-24, 2012: After gassing up (vehicles with gasoline and humans with coffee) in Bishop, we headed out in a two-Toyota-pickup caravan to Coyote Flats. The ~20 mile run to Baker Creek starts off sandy, then moves on to steep and rocky as it switchbacks up from about 5000ft into the 10,000ft Coyote Flat. It's a challenging but not heart-attack-inducing class II-III 4x4 with views that will knock your socks off (if you have a moment to look up from the road and enjoy them).
It took about two hours for us to finish the drive to Baker Creek, where we found a nice campsite and settled in. Both guys were recovering from leg injuries, so I left them at about 10 am to fish the lakes while I headed out to climb Cloudripper and Vagabond Peaks. The wind was howling and as the day went on it only got worse. After successfully reaching the summit of Vagabond (aka Cloudripper Jr) and starting over towards Cloudripper, the winds were strong enough to start knocking my legs out from under me. I had to draw the line between "You got this" and "don't be stupid", so since I was solo I turned back, leaving Cloudripper for another day. On the way back I did tag the easy Hunchback as a consolation prize.
We had a nice (but windy) night in camp and enjoyed really warm overnight temps for 10,000 ft. I would really like to get back here for more than an overnight and explore some of the side roads and get in to some other peaks. It's so beautiful up there!
Trip ReportGPS track from the hike to Vagabond and HunchbackGPS track from the drive into Coyote Flat

SKY PILOT!!!! I didn't expect to see any up here since it was so early, but it's been a weird year. It only grows at higher elevations, and I don't think I've ever seen it below maybe 12,000 ft. (this sighting was around 13k). My favorite flower. Yay!

Okay, we're done with the easy stuff. Time to find my way over this thing. The problem is that in order to get to Cloudripper you have to go over the ridge that is Vagabond. I kept searching for a good route over and would get walled out in giant boulders. Eventually I headed straight to the high point of the ridge (Vagabond peak proper) so I could sign the register and scout a route down the other side to Cloudripper.

One of the four (or so) rocks I thought was the summit. As I worked my way up the ridge I kept finding these fun little class 2/3 rock piles that I thought was the summit. I'd get on them and realize I had to go to the next one. I don't remember if this one was the summit or not. It was really windy so I wasn't taking a lot of photos.

I got to the eastern most (and highest) pile and figured it was the summit. Really cool view down on Thunder and Lightning Lake from here (the top of Baker Creek drainage - our campsite is down there in the trees somewhere).

A better shot. Thunder and Lightning lake (big, foreground), and Baker and Hidden Lakes (distant). Camp is about 1.5 miles beyond baker lake in one of the tree groves.

Sky Haven is the peak on the right.

The beautiful view from Vagabond. The turquoise Big Pine Lakes below, and the Palisade Glacier above. Mt Sill is the prominent peak above the glacier, with North Pal to its right. Split Mtn (last summer's 14er) is the high peak in the distance. Cloudripper is immediately in front of me and my next destination. Maybe.

View to the west from the summit of Vagabond, except for the summit block in the way. It was really, really windy. It had been all day but it was getting worse. I needed both feet and both hands on solid surfaces at all times, so I had to tuck myself behind the summit block in order to be stable enough to take photos.

A slightly better shot to the southwest. Peaks to be labeled.

The register is tucked in on the bottom side of the summit rock.

View to the west/northwest. Peaks to be labeled. I've done a few of them. :)

South Lake road is down there. Green Lake below.

Summit register and west view.

Me, trying not to blow off the peak while decked out in all my sweet new Columbia gear. Camera pointed east (the direction I approached from). I made it! Vagabond Peak (aka Cloudripper Jr), 13,374 feet. I was staring at a computer at sea level this time yesterday. Today I'm sucking air like it's going out of style.

Me and the palisades. Tucked in next to the summit rock so that I don't blow off the damn thing.

Sights set. Next target: Cloudripper. So. I started down the north side of Vagabond. The wind was whipping up from that plateau. The boulders were big but perfectly good (i.e. fun) terrain. But I was about three boulders down the summit when a gust of wind literally took a foot out from under me. Luckily my climbing reflexes kicked in and I controlled my fall by grabbing a good arete on a neighboring boulder. I sat there on my ass, being blown over and looking at the terrain in front of me, and realized that this was a really good place to draw the line between "you got this" and "don't be stupid". I hadn't seen another person up here today. I was by myself. The mountain isn't going anywhere. So I turned around. Sigh.

View from my turnaround point. Wah! I wanna go back.

Heading back down Vagabond.

In one of the miscellaneous rock piles along the ridge.

Coming down from the summit. It was a lot easier coming down since I wasn't route finding. When I go back I won't waste time finding my way over this stupid thing.

Looking back up. Almost out of boulders and back to sandy/dirt terrain.

The best patch of Sky pilot I saw all day (maybe around 13,150 ft). It smells so good.

Looking back up at Vagabond. I can't be disappointed, it was a good peak.

Thunder and Lightning Lake and Sky Haven (peak) from my descent.

Looking back up at Vagabond (aka Cloudripper Jr - I don't know the real name, both are on the register).

Thunder and Lightning lake and Sky Haven.

I'd be disappointed about turning around if I wasn't focusing 100% of my energy on not falling over in the wind. Every few minutes I crouch behind a boulder, nibble on a snack, and take a few pics.

Vagabond looks kind of sharp and pointy from here.

Thunder and Lightning Lake, and Sky Haven (peak)

I came down Vagabond closer to the ridge so I could get a view of the lake. The peak is much more dramatic from this side. I like.

Thunder and Lightning Lake, Vagabond Peak.

Thunder and Lightning Lake, Sky haven.

Zoomer on Mt Humphreys.

The wind is so much stronger than it was when I was on this plateau a short while ago, but I decide to head for the Hunchback as a consolation prize.

At this point the wind was once again knocking my feet out from under me. The terrain was easy, but I needed my trekking poles like I've never needed them before. I was blowing over every time I lifted a foot. But hey, only a 500 ft climb from the plateau, gotta do it!

That looks like an interesting area - it's all unnamed on topo maps. Next time we're in Coyote Flats I want to check it out.

Sky haven (foreground, middle), Mt Sill and the Palisades( distant).

Sill and the Palisades, Cloudripper, and Vagabond from the slopes of the Hunchback.

The last stretch to the summit of the Hunchback. The rocks are loose so combined with the wind, I'm moving pretty slow.

View to the north - Mt Humphreys again dominating the skyline.

Holy wind, batman. I tucked into the smallest cove I could find in the summit pile, signed the register, snapped this photo, and got the #$%@ off of that peak. The wind was getting so bad, I just wanted to get down off the peak and off the plateau.

Finally, I'm off the plateau and down in the Baker Creek drainage again. Normally I wouldn't linger in a spot like this due to mosquitoes but the wind and dry conditions make it beautiful.

Heading back down the trail, about 2 miles from camp/trailhead. The wind is still blowing but compared to the ridge it feels like a gentle breeze. I can't wait to hear the guys complain about it and then tell them what it *really* felt like at 13k.

Back at camp. I am completely spent, not even fumes left in the tank. I hiked about 12 miles with around 3500 ft of gain in 7 hours at 10,300-13,300 ft. I reflect on the fact that the previous day I ran 10 miles in an hour and a half at sea level and felt great after. It's amazing how altitude will slow you down. I was well hydrated and fed and didn't feel any of the traditional AMS symptoms (headache, nausea, etc), but simply going from sea level to 10k will do that to you. I have to remember not to get frustrated with myself when I move slower at elevation.

I grab a bag of Lay's potato chips (mmm salt), a bag of fresh cherries, a bottle of water, drop my pack, sit down and lean against a log. I recover quickly and have a great night of sleep.